A Chicago hiking family had a lucky escape Wednesday after they became stranded atop Colorado’s Greenhorn Mountains as night fell — with officials praising the family for acting quickly when they realized they were in danger.
A family of five – three adults and two children – went hiking at the Greenhorn Trailhead Wednesday morning and were almost to the top when they were slowed by worsening conditions along the icy terrain, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Unexpected snowfall and the effects of high altitude have taken their toll on families as they become exhausted without food and inadequate clothing for the biting cold weather.
And, with dusk setting in and temperatures plunging atop the 11,300-foot mountain, the Chicago family soon realized they wouldn’t be able to make it back to their starting point and called 911 for help.
A multi-agency rescue team was then immediately assembled and sprung into action.
Volunteer Search and Rescue (SAR) members of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office were flown to the summit of North Peak where they managed to locate the frozen family via GPS signals. They gave shivering families food, water and extra clothes.
Officials praised the family for acting quickly when they realized they were in danger.X/Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
The SAR team then hiked with the family about a mile above the summit where they were met by firefighters hiking from the Bartlett Trailhead.
The whole group then hiked all the way to the top of the Ophir River where an emergency vehicle was waiting for them.
The group then made it down the mountain safely, PCSO said, where the family met up with relatives who had been sitting outside the climb. The PCSO said the rescue operation took seven hours to complete.
Pictures released by the PCSO show the difficult snowy terrain last Wednesday.
Pictures released by the PCSO show the difficult snowy terrain last Wednesday. X/Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
Despite the dangerous situation, the PCSO praised the family for taking several precautions before starting the climb and having the opportunity to call for help before their cell phones died.
For example, the family had an outdoor survival kit, and they told their relatives about their hiking plans before taking off.
They also followed the 911 operator’s instructions and remained in one location until rescuers could arrive and locate them.
PCSO warned mountain walkers, or people on trails, to be prepared and aware of rapidly changing conditions before they set out, noting that temperatures drop drastically in the winter months when the sun goes down.
The Greenhorn Trail is 7.8 miles long. Its starting elevation is 7,460 feet and peaks at 11,340 feet, a gain of 3,880 feet, according to the Forest Service.
The agency lists the trail as moderate for hiking.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
